Why Organic?
We are often asked why our organic dairy products taste so good. And the answer is always the same… We are passionate about our cows; we care about how we treat them and we feed them with top quality chemical-free grass and silage. We care for the environment too by generating our own green electricity and we have set aside an area of the farm that’s a haven for wildlife in all its forms. We also operate a 12 mile hedge improvement plan and following an RSPB survey we know our farm provides habitat for over 86 species of bird.
The result…. Farming that’s in harmony with the natural environment means you get the best quality organic milk with the best possible taste for your family.
How we improve soil fertility naturally
Rather than using chemical-based fertilisers, we improve soil fertility naturally by growing deep-rooting legumes (red clover and beans) and recycling farmyard manure as compost. The legumes maintain a well aerated, free draining soil structure through their rooting system. They also provide a natural fertiliser by fixing nitrogen from the air in a form other plants can use.
Our organic farming system replenishes carbon back into the soil. The soil is home to billions of living organisms that purify our water and help against flooding and drought.
Compost is produced by mixing air with farmyard manure through a muck spreader two to three times during the cycle. This allows the farmyard manure to heat up, killing off any weed seeds and potentially harmful bacteria. The compost is then spread on the fields.
The benefits of an integrated approach to organic farming
The diversity of the wildlife to be found around the farm has increased greatly since the farm entered organic conversion in 1998. Both insects and small birds have benefited from the increased hedgerow size and the absence of chemicals on the farm.
Sightings of kestrels, skylarks, sparrowhawks, curlews, fieldfares and herons are more commonplace since we converted to organic farming. Encouraging wildlife and increasing the crop diversity is helping nature keep its natural balance.
The result? Everything is in balance. Cows feeding on grass that’s been grown in healthy, chemical-free soils and surrounded by abundant hedges means everyone benefits: the cows, the wildlife and the humans!
If you’d like to join the growing numbers of people who enjoy organic Acorn Dairy products delivered to their doorsteps, register here and we’ll be in touch.
We are very proud to be Soil Association certified.
The Soil Association Organic Standard is your reassurance of the high standards we maintain for animal welfare, protecting human health, and safeguarding the environment. No system of farming has higher levels of animal welfare than farms working to Soil Association organic standards.